Braxton Hicks Contractions

Updated on August 17, 2008
A.G. asks from Houston, TX
9 answers

I am having a lot of braxton hicks contractions!, I was thinking it may be because i am producing milk at 7 months pregnant. It has happened many times, the other night it was really bad, i almost went to the hospital. Could I be doing something to cause this?

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R.

answers from San Antonio on

Make sure you are plenty hydrated. I went to the hospital with my first pregnancy for contractions, and they gave me a huge pitcher of water to drink and sent me home. I would also tell your obgyn about the milk thing. That could have something to do with the contracions also.

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K.K.

answers from Killeen on

Both my singleton and my twins caused me to have braxton hicks...I was put on bed rest with my singleton, and with my twins I was put on progressive bed rest. With my twins when I called the hospital they would have me take a hot shower and drink at least 8 oz of water and be inactive for 30 min. This usually caused the contractions to lessen if not go away completely.

I also want to remind you that while braxton hicks is "false" labor, it is also a way to prepare your body for the real thing. Having had so much braxton hicks prior to their births my children were born in under 7 hours and under 5 hours from the time my water broke. My labor pains usually started 1 to 2 hours after the water broke, and was intense right away.

I am not trying to scare you, just asking you to be prepared in case your body is preparing you for a quick birthing process..

Congratulations!!! and Good Luck!!!!

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B.M.

answers from Houston on

Hi A.,

For me, if I was on my feet too much during the day or too active around the house at night, I would start having braxton hicks contractions. They weren't painful or very strong, but annoying. When I sat down and put my feet up they would go away afer about 30 minutes. If they are painful, strong, or you are having them regularly and they don't go away with you sitting down and resting, I would let your doctor know. Good luck.

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A.J.

answers from Killeen on

producing milk AND having braxton hicks both sound pretty normal to me at 7 mo. preggo! track your BH contractions and if they are regular you need to call your dr.! if at all possible, try to rest and relax and not overdo it.

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P.K.

answers from Houston on

i had strong ones too, during both pregnancies, and did in fact go get checked out one night when they were rytmic, every three minutes or something. but no worries, no progression in any other way. same with my second baby, i did not bother to go get checked out, i just would lie down and drink as much water as possible, and then i would be fine, until it started up again the next time. both kids were full term. some people have more braxton-hicks than others, i guess. go get checked out just the same.

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K.K.

answers from Houston on

I doubt you are doing this, but just in case - when I was pg I was using an at home foot massage bath and while having it began to have contractions - I read the instructions and it warned against using it during pregnancy - I stopped and so did the contractions.

When you finally begin real labor, the early contractions do feel like braxton hicks, so if they become regular I would call the doctor, he will know what to tell you to do based on your symptoms.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

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H.C.

answers from San Antonio on

A.,
I am now on my third pregnancy and the braxton hicks have come earlier each time. When I spoke with my OB about it this time around he said that I need to be drinking more water and it's true. I find that if I start feeling the bh, I drink a bottle or two of water and just rest for a while and they tend to go away. Now, as it gets closer to my due date(I'm 6 months now) I know it won't be that easy- I tend to have them fairly regularly during my 8th and 9th month. The key is to make sure you are staying well hydrated - you need much more than the standard 8 cups of water per day, especially during the summer. With my last one I stopped counting at 16 cups of water per day - I actually needed more that that but once I hit 16 I just kept drinking and stopped counting. Be sure to talk with your doctor about your concerns.

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P.G.

answers from Austin on

Hi A., I just signed on and saw your post. I would recommend soaking in a hot bath and just relax, practice breathing. I gave birth to our daughter in 2005 at a birthing center and our midwives gave us that advice if it ever came up. You will know that you know when you are going into real labor, so if your water hasn't broke or your "plug" has not come out, than just relax in a tub and focus on that precious baby. Don't stress over it or freak out, because its so easy to do. Remember, you will know if its the real thing.

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L.H.

answers from San Antonio on

I had them with all three of mine, by the time my last one came, I had started having them at 4 months along. I had to be careful with twisting or turning the wrong way, stretching too much(as in, reaching into the top cabinet) or anything else that seemed to use my abdominal muscles. I also had them if I sat too long, or stood too long. They would go away once I changed my activity level-whether it was to get active(because I'd been sitting), or to take a breather(because I'd been walking, standing, whatever). It made for a VERY long trans-Atlantic flight at 5 months along, let me tell you! lol

My kids were all pretty much born at term(my daughter was 20 days early), and my labors were all very very short(my 'longest' labor was just under 5 hours, the middle was just under 4 hours, and my daughter only a little over an hour).

It is normal for them to come earlier with each pregnancy, but that being said, make sure you stay hydrated. That is one major cause of pre=term labor. Change your activity level, see if that helps. You won't stop having them, but let your OB/Gyn know so that they can also make sure you're not dilating as well. That's the real warning sign.

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